• English
  • 简体中文
  • 繁體中文
  • Tiếng Việt
  • ไทย
  • Indonesia
Subscribe
Real-time News
The Secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council said: If the evil alliance of Zionism and the United States makes another mistake, the region will become their hell!According to CBS News, the United States is seeking to revoke the citizenship of 17 U.S. citizens on suspicion of fraud.On June 8th, Rob Guest Pinford, a lecturer in international security at Kings College London, commented on the latest developments in the Middle East, stating that as the situation in the Strait of Hormuz stabilizes, Iran appears to be gradually entering what observers call a "neither war nor peace" state. Pinford pointed out, "Currently, Irans attitude is relatively stable, and it is not in a hurry to return to the negotiating table to seek the lifting of sanctions." He believes that compared to Iran, the United States appears to be more clearly eager to push for an agreement, despite Trumps occasional hardline rhetoric. "There is a clear contrast in the signals Trump is sending," Pinford said. "On the one hand, he frequently makes strong statements about restarting war and destroying civilization; on the other hand, he posts that an agreement is within reach." Meanwhile, when discussing Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahus decision-making logic, Pinford pointed out that Netanyahu needs to prove that Israel is taking a tough stance against Hezbollah in Lebanon, and not just implementing Trumps policy intentions. He said, "Netanyahu must demonstrate that he is cracking down hard on Hezbollah, rather than simply acting according to Trumps demands."On June 8th, WeChat announced that it is officially providing developers with the ability to easily access the WeChat AI ecosystem. Users can now access AI application services in mini-programs through the WeChat AI Agent. Meituan stated that as one of the first internal testing teams, it had previously collaborated with the WeChat team to develop and test the integration. It is understood that in the future, users will be able to access local life services such as Meituan Waimai (Meituan Takeout) through the WeChat Agent, achieving a more intelligent and convenient AI-powered life service experience.On June 8th, KBRA Senior Director Ken Egan stated that further interest rate hikes by the European Central Bank could push the Eurozone economy towards unnecessary stagflation. In a report, he noted, "Reputation is paramount. While some tightening measures may be reasonably necessary to stabilize expectations, interest rates are a crude tool for addressing supply shocks, especially when growth momentum is weak." Egan stated that the recent rise in Eurozone inflation is driven more by external energy prices than by domestic overheating. He pointed out, "Confidence is very fragile, and if policy is over-corrected, the energy shock could potentially turn into a stagflation risk." The ECB is expected to raise interest rates by 25 basis points this week.

Crypto winter may temper fintech earnings

Jimmy Khan

Aug 04, 2022 14:41

微信截图_20220804141531.png


Wall Street has lowered earnings expectations for once high-flying fintechs Coinbase and Block, as a chill in the cryptocurrency market adds more pain to the companies already grappling with surging costs and rapidly rising rates.


Crypto exchange Coinbase is expected to report an adjusted loss in the second quarter, while Jack Dorsey-led payments company Block is likely to post a 70% drop in adjusted profit.


Coinbase, which has the biggest exposure to crypto volatility, has lost more than three quarters of its market capitalization this year.


“For Coinbase, this is going to be a very difficult 12 to 18 months,” said Dan Dolev, senior analyst, fintech equity research at Mizuho Securities USA.


Block, which changed its name from Square last year to better reflect its focus on blockchain, has lost over half of its market value amid the stock market rout this year.

The context

The cryptocurrency selloff has dragged down multiple companies in the sector, with some even seeking bankruptcy protection. Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency, has nearly halved in value in the first seven months of the year.


“There could be potential for double digit headcount reduction (at Coinbase) at some point because the cost is too high,” Dolev said.


Estimate cuts and competitive pressures are also contributing to the weakness in fintech stocks, according to Credit Suisse analysts.


The cryptocurrency sector may be slowly emerging from a bruising selloff, but they still have to contend with regulatory hurdles in the United States, the biggest market for such assets.


Online trading app Robinhood Markets Inc reported a 44% plunge in second-quarter earnings on Tuesday, a day earlier than expected, and said it would also cut 23% of its workforce.